Elmar Mamadyarov has become Azerbaijan's first foreign minister to make an official visit to Israel.

On April 22, he met with Israeli President Shimon Peres on the first day of his four-day visit.

During the meeting, Shimon Peres said Azerbaijan has taken a "clear stand" against war and terrorism and is a "key country" in its region.

Azerbaijan shares a border with Israel's archrival, Iran.

Mamadyarov also held talks with the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Israeli parliament (Knesset), Avigdor Lieberman.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said their discussions included bilateral relations, the situation in the Middle East, and the ongoing Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.